Potty

Wesley has been in underwear for the most part these past few months. If I put him in a diaper he wouldn't do anything on the potty. At least in underwear he would pee in the potty. But continued to struggle with going poop. Oh so frustrating for him as well as ourselves. Tonight he successfully did it!! He recognized the feeling and ran for the potty. He was so proud of himself! His fear has been that it will hurt so he holds it in and tonight he realized it really doesn't hurt. He had a huge grin on his face and had to call Nana & Grandma to tell them. He is really very proud of being a big boy.

Josie is potty trained as well. She's been absorbing everything with Wesley. On occasion she's inform us she needed to go potty, but wasn't consistent. And while dealing with Wesley we really didn't want to add another to that struggle if we didn't have to. A week ago she stayed completely dry in her diaper for a whole day. So the next day I had her in training pants. After that day she wanted back in the diaper but stayed dry and wanted to go on the potty. Saturday Ben asked if she wanted to pick out some underwear and she was so excited! She picked out Princess & the Frog and Ni Hao Kailan. She's been wearing them and has only had 1 accident. It was today and in the car on the way home. She told me but I misjudged how long it could wait, so its my fault. I now know to stop in a parking lot and let her use the mini travel potty in the van.

We are so excited that after 5 1/2 years we are finally done buying diapers! The pictures are from our Poopie Party at Chuck E. Cheese's. (It cost us nothing! =])

new method

potty training wesley has been extremely frustrating. But the biggest thing is I haven't been consistent. Since I'm trying to organize myself and get an order to things around here I'm giving it a go again. Wesley is definitely old enough and mature enough to be out of diapers. We're going to work as a team this time. His job is to listen to his body and tell me. My job is to get him to a potty and remind him to listen to his body. I even have a potty that will travel in the car until we nail this skill. Pray for us.

New Jobs and misc.

I've been doing the training for my new job and then I get to start talking to new moms. The hardest part I've noticed so far is going to be using picture words to help a mom get a good latch since it's almost all over the phone. But that's what training is for.

Ben's new job is wonderful!! If for nothing else, he's not nearly as stressed. But, some of the other great things are that it's what he loves to do, what he's going to school for, and it's not a dead-end position.

Carlise is now old enough for school but will not be attending kindergarten. Kindergarten isn't required in the state of Alabama and since we feel she's not emotionally ready, she'll stay home with me this year. And I'll be making sure she's on the same level as the other kids for 1st grade.

Wesley is still my b.o.y. in all ways. We've discovered his laughter is intoxicating to us. He is very inventive and loves to destroy my living room to build whatever he's creating that day. As long as he helps clean up we're ok. He's still not potty trained but is working on it. He's trying to earn his reward of going to Chuck E. Cheese's.

Josie is in the transition from being baby to 2 year old. Sassy pants. She will probably be potty trained when Wesley is. She communicates very well and expresses herself pretty clearly. She loves to wear dresses, but not skirts so much. However, she absolutely insists on picking out her shoes by herself though.

slow & steady progress

Josephine climbed out of the crib the other week and fell, so that meant it was time for a toddler bed. For the first time in 5 years we don't have a crib set-up in the house! Their room feels bigger somehow. Josie has done so-so about staying in bed. We've taken away the paci when she gets out of bed, but that doesn't seem to bother her, so we're going ahead and taking it away for good. =]

Wesley has kind of, sorta, decided he wants to potty train. I'm not really pushing it, because I get frustrated too easily. So he does better some hours/days than others, but he is making progress, so I think he'll be done in a month or two.

Carlise is no longer taking naps. Not because she doesn't want to, but because even though she gets in bed at 8, she doesn't fall asleep until 9:45. On the plus side she gets to do some activities by herself that she couldn't do if the younger two were up. We're still trying to decide about her going to school next year.

And I actually updated my private blog.

parenting joys

Oh the weird joys I get out of parenting. First I put the doorknob covers on to keep Carlise out of rooms. Now I'm thrilled she's figured them out. here's why:

Right after Josie started nursing Carlise informs me that she HAS TO GO POTTY! I told her, "Then GO!" So she went into the bathroom, turned on the light and shut the door behind her. She starts hollerin' for me right after Josie finished (thankfully). I was scared at what I would find. Much to my surprise (& delight) she had taken off her "unaware" and had gone potty - IN THE POTTY! What was she yelling? "Mommy, I want my sticker!" YAY! Not bad considering she didn't decide to start going potty until the weekend before Josie was born.


Josie's weight update:
9lbs. 7oz
and 21 inches

Computer Shopping

it's time for a new computer. Ours has just about had it. We're looking at a Mac because we just hate windows and pcs can be a big pain. I called Lyns and her Mom for help. They were the first people I knew with a Mac. We're looking on e-bay for something used. And I drooled over some Mac laptops. Oh, how I wish, but then again what would I need one for? silly me, always trying to spend money. Ben keeps me grounded though. =]

Carlise has been requesting to go look at lights every night after dinner. We love it! We listen to the radio and she sings along to the christmas carols. We say, "Look Carlise! See the lights?" and she says, "Look Wesley! see the lights?" She's been very caring and attentive to her little brother. It warms our hearts.

My knight in shining armour rescued me today. It was a task I couldn't take on and he swooped in and saved me from it. *sigh* (I HATE potty training accidents)

Sticker Love

so, Carlise has been resisting more than just potty training. She's been refusing to go to sleep both at naptime and bedtime. We've tried singing, playing with her hair, pleading, threatening, and spanking and nothing works. That is until i discovered my child's love of stickers. So, now when we lay her down we remind her. "Go straight to sleep, don't play, don't get out of bed and when you wake-up you can have a sticker." It has worked for 2 weeks now without a hitch. Of course, I learned after the first success (and tantrum) that I had to use different stickers than the ones for potty success. Just glad I love stickers too and have a huge supply of them. =]